# NTSB IAD99LA064: Piper PA-34-220T, N6915Z, Nantucket, MA, September 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1999, 17:54 local (21:54 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA - Location: 41.2533° N, 70.0605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NANTUCKET MEML (ACK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2533&lon=-70.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 94-13-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/94-13-11) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 47284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD99LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47284/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA064 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing and the fracture and collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot flew in VFR conditions and completed a visual approach to Runway 06. The pilot stated the landing was 'a little bumpier than some, but not a hard landing' and that the airplane 'ballooned' before its final touchdown. After the final touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the side of the runway. Examination of the landing gear revealed a fracture in the web area of the trunnion. An Airworthiness Directive and a service bulletin from the manufacturer called for inspection of the web area for cracks, 'To prevent collapse of the main landing gear caused by cracked trunnions, which could result in airplane damage.' Detailed metallurgical examination of the landing gear revealed that the fractures were due to overstress and that no pre-existing fractures were observed. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1999, at 1754 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N6915Z, was substantially damaged during landing at the Nantucket Municipal Airport (ACK), Nantucket, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Baltimore, Maryland, approximately 1539. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to visit his home in Nantucket. He said he flew IFR in visual conditions and completed the visual approach to Runway 06 at ACK. The pilot said: "I flew a normal approach by VASI at 90 knots. As we came down, the landing was a little bumpier than some, but not a hard landing. We touched down in the first 25 percent of the runway. During rollout, the right main gear wouldn't support the airplane and we veered right and stopped." In a written statement, the pilot said: "Upon landing, [the] airplane ballooned slightly and upon final contact with the runway, the airplane dipped to the right and skidded to a stop." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety inspector examined the airplane at the scene. He said the airplane sustained damage to the right main gear and both propellers. The inspector said the nose gear collapsed and the nose gear support structure was damaged. He said: "The right main landing gear trunnion cracked in the web area as referenced in Airworthiness Directive 94-13-11 and Piper Service Bulletin 787B. However, this airplane is outside the affected serial numbers in the AD. The AD pertains to serial numbers 34-8133001 through 34-8233088. The accident airplane is serial number 34-8533003." According to the inspector, the last annual inspection of the airplane was completed June 3, 1999. The mechanic cited the AD, but noted non-compliance due to the serial number of the airplane. The pilot reported 6,500 hours of flight experience, 75 hours of which were in the 90 days prior to the accident. The pilot reported 50 hours of experience in make and model. Weather reported at ACK at the time of the accident was clear skies with winds from 090 degrees at 7 knots. A review of Airworthiness Directive 94-13-11 and Piper Service Bulletin 787B revealed that compliance was: "To prevent collapse of the main landing gear caused by cracked trunnions, which could result in airplane damage..." Both the Airworthiness Directive and the service bulletin describe the method of inspection for detection of the cracks (dye-penetrant) and the inspection intervals. The right main landing gear was removed from the airplane and examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC. According to the Materials Laboratory Factual Report, examination of the landing gear revealed that: "Significant bending deformation of the axle support arm was observed. This bending allowed contact between the tire and the top of the axle support arm. The wheel was also rotated around the trunnion axis relative to the front trunnion support. The rear trunnion support was bent 23 [degrees] relative to its original position. "An examination of the fracture surface indicated that fracture occurred by overstress of the component. No evidence of fatigue or any other preexisting cracks was observed." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6915Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6915Z), registered now, S/N 34-8533003, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-220T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8533003 - Airframe hours: 2660 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Erwin L Greenberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD - Destination: ACK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ACK, Nantucket Memorial, runway 6, 6,303 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ACK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990902046109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990902046109A), Sep 2, 1999: Piper PA34220T, Nantucket, MA, No damage. (-23) Aircraft landed runway 06. Pilot felt right side settle and right wing hit runway. Pilot then felt the nose gear collapse and aircraft skidded to a stop.… ## Other investigations on N6915Z (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN26LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA188), May 13, 2026: Piper PA-34-220T (N6915Z), Corpus Christi, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the main landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in a gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the approach. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.